Nickelodeon Expands Product Offerings and Debuts New Properties for Kids and Tweens at Licensing 2008 International Show

Nickelodeon Expands Product Offerings and Debuts New Properties for Kids and Tweens at Licensing 2008 International Show

Nickelodeon's Multiplatform Live-Action Tween Hit iCarly Launches Apparel, Electronics and Other Products at Retail in Summer 2008

Nick Jr.'s Newest Original Series, Ni-Hao Kai-lan, Brings Chinese Culture and Mandarin Language to Merchandising Plan For Apparel, Home Entertainment, Books and More

Key Properties Neopets Slime! and Dora The Explorer Expand Into New Categories and Product Lines Around The World

Licensing Begins for SpongeBob SquarePants 10th Anniversary and Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures' 2010 release of M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender

NEW YORK, June 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP), the world's leading television-based licensing organization, announced today the debut of new properties for kids and tweens, as well as innovative extensions of current licensing hits. Licensing partners are now able to create merchandising programs for brands such as iCarly, the hit series that unites the TV screen and the web for kids, and Ni-Hao, Kai-lan, the first animated preschool series to incorporate Chinese culture and Mandarin Chinese language. Along with Neopets, the most engaging youth oriented virtual world with retail products, Nickelodeon is featuring these exciting properties and more at the Licensing 2008 International Show, June 10-12, at the Javits Center in New York City. Additionally, NVCP introduces the retail debut of Slime! and the expansion of categories and product lines for SpongeBob SquarePants, which celebrates its 10th anniversary next year; top preschool show, Dora The Explorer; the hit live-action mockumentary series, The Naked Brothers Band; and Avatar: The Last Airbender, which is being made into a feature film. Nickelodeon kicked off Licensing Show 2008 International with a special preview of the 2010 Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures' The Last Airbender, featuring director M. Night Shyamalan discussing his vision for the forthcoming live-action theatrical based on Nick's hit animated series.

"We're introducing an incredible array of new products in new categories and products based on our hits with innovative retailers and licensees in markets around the globe," said Leigh Anne Brodsky, President, NVCP. "iCarly just launched in September, and it has already become one of the top tween shows on all television. We're also thrilled about our newest preschool series, Ni-Hao, Kai-lan, which breaks new ground by incorporating Chinese culture and Mandarin language skills into every show."

Brodsky added, "With the expertise and creativity of our partners, we continue to maintain our leadership position in entertainment licensing as the 'go-to' licensor for kids and tweens. Neopets, which is the most engaging virtual world on the web, will be expanding at retail with a new line in the fall in the U.S. and new markets, including Brazil and Holland. We're also excited to bring Nickelodeon's iconic Slime! to kids for the first time ever, this year."

Details of NVCP's new merchandising programs debuting at Licensing Show include:

iCarly

The iCarly merchandising program kicks off in this June with the eagerly awaited album, titled "iPlaylist." The album contains exclusive tracks from multi-platinum popular artists including: Natasha Bedingfield; Avril Lavigne; Good Charlotte; and Sean Kingston, and three tracks from iCarly star Miranda Cosgrove. In July, an iCarly line of products with the Limited Too and Justice, available exclusively in their stores. The line will consist of apparel, stationery and electronics. Additionally, iCarly will be hitting the DVD shelves in September with the launch of iCarly Season 1, Volume 1. The DVD includes 13 episodes, the making of the "Leave It All To Me" music video, behind the scenes extras and much more. iCarly will also make its way to electronics aisles across the country this fall when Imation releases an entire line of iCarly-themed products under the innovative Npower label, available exclusively at Toys "R" Us. Npower is an exciting consumer electronics product line reflecting kids' comfort and exposure to increasingly sophisticated technology that's fun, easy-to-use and interactive. The iCarly Npower products will include web cams, camcorders, mp3 players, digital cameras and more.

In iCarly, Carly Shay (Cosgrove) lives with her twenty-something brother/guardian Spencer (Trainor) and produces her webcasts from a makeshift loft studio with pals Sam (McCurdy) and Freddie (Kress). Grappling with adolescence, she never set out to gain fame as a rising star/underground celebrity to kids. Everything happens by accident when a teacher puts her in charge of the school talent show. She and sassy sidekick Sam turn the audition process into a show, which tech-savvy, smitten Freddie tapes -- including their hilarious banter and great chemistry -- and posts on the web unbeknownst to them. The online audience clamors for more, and a pop phenomenon blooms, with Carly, co-host Sam and tech producer Freddie's regular webcasts featuring everything from comedy sketches and unusual talents to recipes and problem-solving. Each week they can do and say what they want, and the audience loves it.

Ni-Hao, Kai-lan

Ni Hao, Kai-lan is ready to launch a merchandising program that will begin to take hold at Licensing 2008 International. With deals in apparel already in the works, including a T-shirt line currently in Forever 21 stores across the country, as well as a DVD to launch in August 2008, NVCP will seek other major merchandising and promotional partners to extend the brand into several different key categories including toys, accessories, publishing, stationery and more.

Ni Hao, Kai-lan is the story of Kai-lan Chow, a playful, adventurous bilingual preschooler with a big heart, who speaks both English and Mandarin. Kai-lan's world is infused with Chinese culture, from the dumplings she eats and the lanterns that adorn her house, to the huge Chinese New Year celebration she has with her family and friends. The series centers on Kai-lan and her relationships with her grandfather, Yeye, and her animal friends. Yeye plays a major role in her life as he gently and playfully guides her to her own discoveries. Kai-lan is a natural leader who is thoughtful and caring and has a gift for helping her friends when they really need her. Her best friends are Rintoo, a rambunctious five-year-old tiger who loves to play; Tolee, a five-year-old koala who always puts his friends first; Hoho, a three-year-old monkey full of boundless energy; and Lulu, a happy six-year-old pink rhino.

Neopets

The initial offering of the Neopets' plush, which were introduced at retail in February 2008, has been incredibly successful. The new product line -- including new plush, trading cards, vinyl figures, playsets, books, puzzles and video games -- will launch this fall at mass retailers nationwide including Target, Wal-Mart, Toys "R" Us and Kmart. Each product will incorporate the '360' web-to-product experience as it ties into the already rich web community by offering unique codes that will drive consumers back to Neopia to redeem a variety of exclusive items players/neopets. Internationally, Neopets will launch in Holland at Toys "R" Us in July and was just launched in Brazil, the second largest market for Neopets outside the United States.

With more than 44 million global memberships, 200 games, an active virtual economy based on Neopoints, daily and weekly creativity contests, Neovision video player, discussion boards, quests and thousands of virtual items to collect, Neopets offers its audience an almost endless array of engaging activities. Neopets is a global community, available in 11 languages. Neopets has nearly 70 percent awareness among kids 7-13, creating a dedicated network of fans and a ready-made market for a variety of consumer products.

Slime!

Slime has always been a huge part of Nickelodeon, from You Can't Do That on Television to Slimetime Live to the Kids' Choice Awards. Now, for the first time since its creation more than 20 years ago, kids can have Slime! of their very own. Nickelodeon has translated the iconic Slime! into consumer products ranging from toys to stationary. Nickelodeon will launch the first of many Slime!-branded products such as the Slime Super Slimer and the Slime Time Splatter, created with partner Jakks Pacific, hitting the shelves this fall. Stride Rite has also signed on as partner on four styles of slime-inspired shoes launching in Fall 2008.

In 2007, Nickelodeon began a cross-country Slime Across America tour, which brought the fun of slime direct to nearly 40,000 kids in 44 markets. The tour continues this year with partner Jakks Pacific. The slime will ooze cross country in an 18-wheel Slime Mobile which will be fully interactive with a Nick Live! Slime Edition stage show, a kid-created content area, karaoke, giveaways, and tons of the green goo. Slime was introduced on Nickelodeon in 1982 and getting slimed has since become a badge of honor for both kids and celebrities. At Nickelodeon's annual Kids' Choice Awards, past slimees have included Justin Timberlake, Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Jim Carrey, Johnny Depp and P. Diddy.

SpongeBob SquarePants

Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2009, the Emmy-Award(R) winning SpongeBob SquarePants is a true pop culture icon and consistently one of the top kids' shows on television. SpongeBob continues to be the number-one animated show on all of commercial television among kids 2-11, and the most-watched animated series in history. SpongeBob also is a licensing powerhouse that has cut across all age groups. In 2008, SpongeBob will continue to delight fans with fresh, unexpected product in toys; apparel; packaged goods; a new plush line from Play Along; multiple console releases for SpongeBob Drawn to Life, and SpongeBob Featuring Nicktoons: Globs of Doom.

In addition to the expansion and availability of the above properties, NVCP also announced new additions to its global roster of licensees:

   -- Skechers intends to launch co-branded athletics for SpongeBob      SquarePants 10th Anniversary.   -- Payless has signed a multi-year licensing agreement creating a new line      of footwear featuring the Blue's Clues characters.   -- THQ will debut the video game based on the highly rated TV show The      Naked Brother Band and will also release a new game based on Avatar:      The Last Airbender titled "Avatar: Into the Inferno".   -- First-ever series of Dora the Explorer educational workbooks and      activity books to be launched in Korea.      by Sam Seong Dang Publishing and Hyoreewon Publishing respectively.   -- New line of Dora the Explorer, Go! Diego! Go! and Blue's Clues DVDs to      be released by Screen Education in Korea.   -- SpongeBob SquarePants accessories for Nintendo Wii and DS to be      launched by Creamuse in Korea   -- Go! Diego! Go! will continue to grow its product offerings in the UK      with two new toy deals (Flair and Martin Yaffe), stickers from      Sandylion and electronics from VTech.   -- Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants healthy snack line from      Summer Fresh in Canada in 2009.   -- SpongeBob SquarePants Batavia dairy line has been extended for the 6th      consecutive year in Brazil.   

NVCP also will continue to expand its licensing business worldwide with the following new property launches:

   -- El Tigre in Spring/Summer 2008 in Latin America, focusing on      stationery, dairy products and snacks, as well as a DVD hitting Latin      American shelves in Fall 2008.   -- The Backyardigans in Fall 2008 in Asia.   -- Go, Diego, Go! in Fall 2008 in Australia.     About Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products  

Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products manages the world's third largest licensing business, representing leading properties such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer, and managing merchandising for Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTVN International, and Spike TV.

Nickelodeon, now in its 29th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 96 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for more than 13 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) .

   Contact:   Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products   Licensing Show booth #1117 and 1317/ Javits Center.  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Nickelodeon

CONTACT: Joanna Roses, +1-212-846-7326, or David Bittler,
+1-212-846-5263, both of Nickelodeon

Web site: http://www.nick.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment